heymch86
05-23-2008, 01:38 AM
I think you know what number one is. I read it and just got angry. I can't wait until we lay the hurt on them in the Dome, get the marker back, clinch a playoff spot and prepare for a national title run.
One for the ages
SDSU claimed league titles, built Division I momentum
Terry Vandrovec • tvandrovec@argusleader.com • May 20, 2008
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So much for having nothing to play for.
The final leg of the four-year NCAA Division I transition was arguably one of the most successful in the history of South Dakota State athletics. Most notably, on a single overcast Saturday - Nov. 17 - the Jackrabbits picked up two conference titles and an oversized check worth $6 million to be put toward a student-athlete development center.
"I think we all believed that we'd do good," athletic director Fred Oien said. "But I'm not sure we thought we'd win a conference championship in football, women's basketball and volleyball in the same year in Division I this year. It's a real credit to the coaches."
These were the top five sports stories of the year:
1. Football team ends title drought: Before a Coughlin-Alumni Stadium record crowd of 16,345, the Jackrabbits beat No. 1-ranked North Dakota State 29-24 in the season finale to win the Great West Football Conference title - their first championship crown since 1963.
It was the second year in a row that SDSU lost its first three games to wind up 7-4 and in the Football Championship Subdivision top 25.
The Jacks - who will move into the renowned Gateway Football Conference this fall - also set a new home attendance record, boasted more academic all-district picks than any other Division I program in a nine-state region and had two players sign NFL contracts.
2. Women's basketball team runs away with title: Picked to finish third in the preseason poll, the Jacks made a statement in their first year in the Summit League.
Although slowed by four separate foot injuries, SDSU finished four games clear of anybody else atop the regular-season standings, claiming the first outright conference title in program history and earning a bid to the Women's National Invitation Tournament for the second season in a row.
Although the Jacks were beaten by Creighton in the first round, bringing an end to a 22-game home win streak, they return all but two players for 2008-09 when the conference tournament will be held in Sioux Falls.
3. Volleyball team advances to national championships: One of two SDSU programs granted NCAA postseason eligibility midway through the transition, the Jacks made good on the opportunity by winning regular-season and conference tournament titles to earn a spot in the Division I national championships.
However, SDSU was swept in the first round by defending national champion - and regional host - Nebraska before a capacity crowd of 4,189.
And after the season, the team graduated career kills leader Kristina Martin, career digs leader Sam Pearson and career block assists leader Amy Anderson, while head coach Andrew Palileo moved on to Washington State and assistant Phil McDaniel took over at Drake.
4. SDSU receives donation for facility project: Just hours before momentous victories in football and volleyball, SDSU received a $6 million donation from alum Dana Dykhouse and philanthropist T. Denny Sanford to go toward the most expensive project in SDSU athletic history.
The Dykhouse Center will ultimately house offices, locker rooms and training equipment for the school's football, baseball, softball, tennis, golf and running programs in addition to academic support for all sports. The project is currently in the design stage.
5. Baseball team rallies after losing a teammate: SDSU relief pitcher Kevin Morsching died from head injuries sustained in a skateboarding accident upon returning to Brookings for fall semester, setting the tone for an emotional season.
In one of six games at their new on-campus field, the Jacks beat 11-time defending conference champion Oral Roberts, marking their first win against a team that was receiving votes in the Division I top 25. Morsching's younger brother, Kirby, earned the save.
SDSU also beat Minnesota for the first time since 1966 in an extra-innings game played at Sioux Falls and then turned the trick again one week later in Minneapolis.
Etc. box
If 2007-08 wasn't the most successful year in SDSU athletic history maybe 1962-63 was. The Jacks won a Division II national title in men's basketball, wrestler Dee Brainerd won a national crown at 130 pounds and the football team tied for first in the North Central Conference.
One for the ages
SDSU claimed league titles, built Division I momentum
Terry Vandrovec • tvandrovec@argusleader.com • May 20, 2008
Post a CommentRecommend (19)Print this page E-mail this article
Share this article: Del.icio.us Facebook Digg Reddit Newsvine What’s this?
So much for having nothing to play for.
The final leg of the four-year NCAA Division I transition was arguably one of the most successful in the history of South Dakota State athletics. Most notably, on a single overcast Saturday - Nov. 17 - the Jackrabbits picked up two conference titles and an oversized check worth $6 million to be put toward a student-athlete development center.
"I think we all believed that we'd do good," athletic director Fred Oien said. "But I'm not sure we thought we'd win a conference championship in football, women's basketball and volleyball in the same year in Division I this year. It's a real credit to the coaches."
These were the top five sports stories of the year:
1. Football team ends title drought: Before a Coughlin-Alumni Stadium record crowd of 16,345, the Jackrabbits beat No. 1-ranked North Dakota State 29-24 in the season finale to win the Great West Football Conference title - their first championship crown since 1963.
It was the second year in a row that SDSU lost its first three games to wind up 7-4 and in the Football Championship Subdivision top 25.
The Jacks - who will move into the renowned Gateway Football Conference this fall - also set a new home attendance record, boasted more academic all-district picks than any other Division I program in a nine-state region and had two players sign NFL contracts.
2. Women's basketball team runs away with title: Picked to finish third in the preseason poll, the Jacks made a statement in their first year in the Summit League.
Although slowed by four separate foot injuries, SDSU finished four games clear of anybody else atop the regular-season standings, claiming the first outright conference title in program history and earning a bid to the Women's National Invitation Tournament for the second season in a row.
Although the Jacks were beaten by Creighton in the first round, bringing an end to a 22-game home win streak, they return all but two players for 2008-09 when the conference tournament will be held in Sioux Falls.
3. Volleyball team advances to national championships: One of two SDSU programs granted NCAA postseason eligibility midway through the transition, the Jacks made good on the opportunity by winning regular-season and conference tournament titles to earn a spot in the Division I national championships.
However, SDSU was swept in the first round by defending national champion - and regional host - Nebraska before a capacity crowd of 4,189.
And after the season, the team graduated career kills leader Kristina Martin, career digs leader Sam Pearson and career block assists leader Amy Anderson, while head coach Andrew Palileo moved on to Washington State and assistant Phil McDaniel took over at Drake.
4. SDSU receives donation for facility project: Just hours before momentous victories in football and volleyball, SDSU received a $6 million donation from alum Dana Dykhouse and philanthropist T. Denny Sanford to go toward the most expensive project in SDSU athletic history.
The Dykhouse Center will ultimately house offices, locker rooms and training equipment for the school's football, baseball, softball, tennis, golf and running programs in addition to academic support for all sports. The project is currently in the design stage.
5. Baseball team rallies after losing a teammate: SDSU relief pitcher Kevin Morsching died from head injuries sustained in a skateboarding accident upon returning to Brookings for fall semester, setting the tone for an emotional season.
In one of six games at their new on-campus field, the Jacks beat 11-time defending conference champion Oral Roberts, marking their first win against a team that was receiving votes in the Division I top 25. Morsching's younger brother, Kirby, earned the save.
SDSU also beat Minnesota for the first time since 1966 in an extra-innings game played at Sioux Falls and then turned the trick again one week later in Minneapolis.
Etc. box
If 2007-08 wasn't the most successful year in SDSU athletic history maybe 1962-63 was. The Jacks won a Division II national title in men's basketball, wrestler Dee Brainerd won a national crown at 130 pounds and the football team tied for first in the North Central Conference.